Hallelujah! Celebrating the day when the pope was released from the hospital – his beloved ice cream
Rome (AP) – “Hallelujah!” This is the breathlessness of countless Catholics leaving the hospital on Sunday. This is also the name of a new ice cream flavor.
Hallelujah Gelato made its debut in Rome on Sunday at the Piazza Risorgimento, just a 5-minute walk from the Vatican, marking a preview of the International Day of Handmade Ice Cream.
The tasting attracts hundreds of pilgrims, tourists and ice cream lovers who are eager to sample sacred new flavors, including an Italian combination of Gianduia, grilled hazelnuts and pure chocolate. It will be available in ice cream shops throughout Europe starting Monday.
Hallelujah quickly became a way to commemorate Francis’ discharge from the Rome Jegier Hospital, a highly anticipated moment for millions of Catholics in Rome and around the world.
Francis has long been a fan of ice cream.
“It’s a beautiful coincidence that Pope Francis is back home today,” said Ludovico Santasilia, one of the organizers of the initiative. “Francis has been following the project and I’m sure he’ll love the new flavors because we know he’s a huge ice cream fan.”
The flavor is an entry to win the European ice cream competition by the master ice cream maker Vincenzo Squatrito, whose title is to celebrate the Catholic Church’s Holy Jubilee.
Pope Francis began the Jubilee Year in December and is expected to draw about 32 million pilgrims to Rome.
The 88-year-old Argentinian never secretly had his passion for ice cream. A few years ago, his favorite ice cream maker came from his local Buenos Aires, revealing that Francis’ favorite flavor is the local caramel dessert Dulce de Leche.
Over the years, the Pope also established friendships with the Argentinian Sebastian Padrón, who runs a craft shop around the corner of the Pope’s apartment in Casa Santa Marta, where he regularly serves the pope’s favorite ice cream.
“I’m sure the pope also likes the idea that the donation proposed with this tasting will provide a project for homeless people around the world,” Santacilia said.
